See also

Guided Tours

From flowers and fragrance to fruits and textures, the Arnold Arboretum is a dynamic landscape throughout the year! Come for a tour led by our knowledgeable docents and experience the Arboretum in a new light.

Our regular season of free guided landscape tours resumes in April with weekday and weekend tours. See tour listings for descriptions, times, and locations.

During the winter, stay connected with the Arboretum landscape and collections on a Winter Wellness Walk. Offered one Sunday a month through March, these docent-led walks are free, last about 45 minutes, and meet at the Hunnewell Building. The final date is March 8, come for the tour, warm up after in the visitors center with a hot drink. Winter is a wonderful time to explore bark, tree architecture, wildlife, and other features of the pared-down landscape.

Our regular season’s weekend and weekday tours last approximately 90 minutes. All are geared toward the general adult visitor and include Arboretum history and topics of seasonal interest. If you are interested in becoming an Arboretum docent please find out more on our volunteer information page.

For cancellations due to inclement weather, please call 617.384.5209. Find directions to the Arnold Arboretum.

Private Tours

Adult Groups

Our Visitor Education staff will work with you to provide a memorable experience, whether you are a group of avid gardeners seeking to gain horticultural knowledge or simply want a guided stroll through an historic landscape of remarkable beauty.

Walking and bus tours are available—groups must supply their own bus, and bus size restrictions apply. For more information and to request a tour, please fill out a tour request form at least three weeks in advance. If needed, please call 617.384.5209 or email.

Youth Groups

Pre-school through Grade 6: Contact Nancy Sableski, Manager of Children’s Education, at 617.384.5239. For formal school visits see School Programs.

Middle and High School: We do not currently offer standard programs for youth in this age group (after-school groups, summer youth groups, and student clubs), but we can help educators prepare for a self-guided visit.

Higher Education Groups

As part of its education mission, the Arboretum provides academic tours to college and university groups studying relevant subjects. These tours are free of charge and led by Arboretum staff members whenever possible. To schedule an academic tour, course instructors or academic advisers should fill out a tour request form at least three weeks in advance. On the request form describe the scope of the course or other specifics that would allow us to place you with the most appropriate staff member(s). For additional information, please call 617.384.5209 or email.